H E Geraldo Alckmin, Vice President of Brazil and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, praised Ayurveda as a “5,000-year-old treasure of health and wisdom” during his official visit to the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, on October 16. The visit highlighted India’s leadership in promoting traditional and integrative healthcare systems and reinforced collaborative ties between India and Brazil in the field of wellness, education, and research.
Addressing officials and faculty at AIIA, Vice President Alckmin said, “The world needs Ayurveda’s timeless wisdom for preventive and sustainable healthcare. Life expectancy is rising, and so is the demand for natural and preventive healthcare systems such as Ayurveda. If this were not a short visit, I would have surely taken the treatment for my back pain here at AIIA.”
Accompanied by his spouse, Maria Lucia Alckmin, and a high-level delegation of 14 officials, including H.E. Kenneth Nobrega, Ambassador of Brazil to India, and H.E. Romison Rodrigues, Director of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), the Vice President was warmly received by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, and Prof. (Vaidya) Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, Director of AIIA. Senior faculty and officers of the institute also extended a formal welcome.
During the visit, the Brazilian delegation received an overview of AIIA’s contributions in Ayurveda education, clinical services, and advanced research. They toured the Hospital Block, Academic and Research Wings, and the Centre for Integrative Health Sciences, interacting with faculty, researchers, and students. A detailed presentation highlighted AIIA’s global initiatives, success stories, and ongoing collaborations promoting evidence-based Ayurveda and integrative medicine.
Vice President Alckmin expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation and appreciated the Institute’s efforts in advancing holistic healthcare.
The visit also stated India-Brazil cooperation in traditional medicine through existing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at academic exchange, joint research, and capacity building. Currently, AIIA maintains active collaborations with reputed Brazilian institutions, including:
- Sri Vajera Foundation and Associated Institutions, Brazil
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the Brazilian Academic Consortium for Integrative Health (CABSIN)
- Future Vision Institute and Federal University of São Paulo
These partnerships focus on enhancing the quality, safety, and accessibility of traditional medicine practices while facilitating scientific exchange and preserving traditional medical heritage.
Both India and Brazil, endowed with rich biodiversity and traditional health knowledge, share a vision to develop sustainable healthcare models rooted in ancient wisdom and validated by modern science. The visit reflected the growing global acceptance of Ayurveda, Yoga, and other Indian traditional systems in Brazil, showcasing the potential for international collaboration in holistic and preventive healthcare.
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